Western cyclone., 1887-05-05
Care of the Skin.

Another of the series of popular lee
tures to nurses was delivered recently
in the University hospital by Df'
Henry W. Stellwagon, the subject be-
ing .iThe Care of the skin" The de-
livery of the lecture occupied an hour,
and the greater part of that time was
devoted to an explanation OF the re-
spective functions of the epldermls'
dermis, papillary, layers, and subcu-
taneous nerves and tissues. The cor
relative relations and specific action OF
each were illustrated by diagram
and notes of the lecture were taken Dy
| the nurses who attended and by many
| others in an audience composed al
most exclusively of ladies. The second
| head of the lecture dwelt with the
proper care of the skin; and in this
connection the lecturer said:
The condition of the skin depends
to a great extent on the way we live.
If we 90 to bed at ? o'clock in the
morning and eat late suppers the sys-
| TEN is affected and diseased skin IS
the result We should also be careful
of our food and eat only that which is
not prejudicial to the action and func-
| tions of the component parts OF the
skin. Some people can not eat she'll
fish without inducing what are known
| as hives, and in other eases some kinds
| of animal food will react injuriously
| in this respect also. Bathing is an
essential feature in the proper treat
ment of the skin The human body
exhales by perspiration from two to
three pints daily, and this, together
with the dust that settles upon the skin
is calculated to have an injurious eff
feet by stopping up the pores. We
have several kinds of baths, among
which are the sponge, the tub, the
hot air, and the vapor. Taking it for
| granted, as we must, that bathing pro-
notes healthy and invigorated ac-
ton of the skin, the question arises:
How often is it necessary to bathe?
| This depends both on the individual
and the nature of the bath. Some peo-
| pie, who perspire freely, find it neces-
bath only three or four times 4
week. Taken indiscriminately, the
| Turkish and Russian baths are unsafe
! and may in certain conditions be posi-
lively dangerous. In cases of heart
uIScdSe, Il JcuOcuCN IO dpOploAly Oh
CONGESTION of the brain Russian or
Turkish baths are exceedingly unsafe,
and as a general rule it may be stated
| that this class of bath should never be
indulged in without the advice of a
physician. The tub bath suits most
of us, but the temperature in every
case should be high enough to prevent
chills and this remark applies also to
sponge baths, which are the safest,
and may, with advantage, be taken
every day.
Another question of Importance is
that of soap. There are several essen
tials to Il good soap, one of which is
that it have sufficient alkali and an
other that it be made of the purest fat.
If there be an excess of alkali the eff
feet on the skin must be injurious by
causing an irritation of the cuticle.
One good soap is the old white CASTLE,
and to this the transparent English
soap is said by some eminent authori-
ties to rank next. A general principle
may be applied with advantage in this
matter of soap, and that is to ayoid
purchasing a cheap article. Do not
buy cheap soap, for the chances are
you will get a bad one, while if, on the
other hand, you purchase IN expen-
sive soap, You may reasonably expect
that it will be good. Phtiadelphia
| Times.